Flying high the borough will represent London again in the annual 'Britain in Bloom' awards.

Richmond is a finalist in the 'City' category - competing against Islington and Hamlets - for the Royal Horticultural Society's competition which looks at floral displays, horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.

Judges visited the borough, on August 7, to look at highlights including York House Gardens, Richmond Riverside, Strawberry Hill House, Terrace Gardens and the recently upgraded Barnes Green.

Cllr Pamela Fleming, Cabinet Member for the Environment, welcomed the Judges to the borough, she said: “We know that we are one of, if not the, most floral borough in London. And yesterday, all our hanging baskets, allotments and flower arrangements in our parks and public spaces were on fine display, in an effort to impress the judges.

“The Council invests thousands every year into maintaining and improving our parks and open spaces but importantly we work very closely with a large number of community groups across the borough to keep our standards high.

“From parks ‘Friends’ groups to local Town Centre managers, they all work hard to promote horticultural excellence.

“Throughout the day the judges travelled all over Richmond upon Thames. I believe that we displayed the best that the borough has to offer and I look forward to the results in October where hopefully we can bring home gold!”

The Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition has been going since 1963 and the success from local and regional ‘in bloom’ competitions determines which villages, towns or cities are entered into the national competition. In 2013 Richmond won Gold and became joint City winners of Britain. Richmond also won the discretionary award for sustainable landscaping for Diamond Jubilee Gardens on Twickenham Riverside.

The results of this year’s competition will be announced at the Britain in Bloom awards ceremony in Llandudno, North Wales, on October 27.